BICYCLISTSTRAVELSANTAFETRAIL

Baldwin  The southeast corner of Baker University's campus sprouted a tent city overnight Monday when a group of bicyclists following the Santa Fe Trail stopped in Baldwin.

Patrick Jennings, a Santa Fe, N.M., resident and member of the tour group, said 28 cyclists made Baker one of their temporary homes on a trip that will lead them to New Franklin, Mo.

"We're going as closely as we can to the Santa Fe Trail," Jennings said. "We're not actually on the trail, of course, because it's a historical monument. Besides that, it's real hard to find."

Jennings said the tour, organized by a Santa Fe bicycle enthusiast with assistance from the Santa Fe Trail Historical Society, began Sept. 17 in New Mexico and is scheduled to end Friday. Cyclists from Boston to Juneau, Alaska, gathered to pedal the 1,100 mile route, riding as much as 84 miles a day.

At every stop, riders are given a brochure with directions and information on historical highlights.

"Santa Fe to Dodge (City) is the best part," Jennings said. "After you get past Dodge, you start seeing a lot of fields and towns with these little white elevators that never seem to get any closer."

Jennings said the group frequently camped at high schools and colleges such as Baker to cut down on traveling costs.